By Clinton Van der Berg
Bryan Thysse etched his name into his family’s fighting history on Saturday at Emperors Palace, east of Johannesburg, stopping Michael Head via ninth-round TKO to capture the vacant South African light heavyweight title.
Head, displaying immense heart but outmatched in skill, battled bravely but was relentlessly worn down by Thysse’s frantic pace and punishing right hand. The new champion found his rhythm by focusing on the body, slowing Head, who somehow survived a beating through the middle rounds. The end began in the eighth when a succession of lefts and rights earned Thysse an eight-count. He pressed his advantage in the ninth, overwhelming Head to force the stoppage. The win sees Thysse join his brother Brandon and late father Andre as a national champion, cementing the family’s boxing legacy.
In a spectacular display on the undercard, rising bantamweight Charlton Malajika dispatched veteran Filipino Froilan Saludar via TKO in the fourth round. “Baby Pain” produced the finest performance of his career, trapping the former world title challenger in the corner before unleashing a power-shot barrage that forced the referee to intervene.
Elsewhere, heavyweights Juan Alberts and Jose Kadima made massive statements. Alberts crushed Namibian Kareb Shitana with a first-round TKO, showing improved speed and composure. Not to be outdone, Congolese-based Kadima lived up to the hype by blitzing Malawi’s Limbani Lano in the opening round, forcing a surrender after a devastating right hand.
In an early thriller, Cape Town’s Khaya Mlata edged a split decision victory over Ardy Katompa to claim the WBC Youth junior featherweight title, marking himself as a star to watch.
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